Dr. Jane Goodall was a tireless advocate, researcher, and champion of the natural world. She spent her life devoted to wildlife and conservation, working for 65 years to raise awareness and encourage action for animals in need. She was a unique light, one who highlighted the importance of understanding and having compassion for all of God’s creations. Goodall passed away on October 1, 2025, yet her legacy continues to inspire many life science students and professionals to study and appreciate the beauty found in nature.
“As a woman in science and an ecologist, I have looked up to Jane Goodall throughout my career,” Loreen Allphin, associate dean of BYU’s College of Life Sciences, stated. “She was a trailblazer who broke so many barriers for women in science like me. I have often been driven by her quote: ‘What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.’”
Since Goodall’s time as a young scientist studying chimpanzees, she has become a symbol in the world of biology. She was a successful female scientist in a field dominated by males and a champion for nature and change through her speeches, published books, and scholarly journal articles. Goodall’s impact on natural science is known by adults and children alike.
“All species need a Jane Goodall as a spokesperson,” remarked Tom Smith, a BYU plant and wildlife sciences professor. “Turns out, chimpanzees were among the most fortunate to have had her.”
Goodall’s groundbreaking research approaches have significantly impacted methodological approaches used by faculty and students in several life science departments at BYU, most especially in the wildlife and wildlands conservation program and the environmental sciences and sustainability program, where they aim to care for the earth and all of God’s creations as wise stewards. She has also inspired hundreds of female students at BYU to follow in her footsteps through her meaningful contributions to science.
All species need a Jane Goodall as a spokesperson.
The College of Life Sciences expresses its profound gratitude for Goodall’s exemplary life of service and the gifts of light she shared with the world. Her legacy demonstrates the importance of forging relationships with animals and the wilderness, which are so often taken for granted.
Pins and stickers honoring the life of Jane Goodall are available in the Dean’s Office on the fifth floor of the Life Sciences Building.